Wall construction



Sept. 19, 1967 P. PESTEL E L WALL CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 7, 1965 IPH FNTORS PAU L PESTEL & BY JAMES MANDERBACH ATTORNEYSept. 19, 1967 FIG. 3.

FIG-5.

Sept. 19, 1967 P. PESTEL ETAL WALL CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledApril 7, 1965 INVENTORS PAU L PESTEL & BY JAMES MAN DERBAGH Q1; j003.4%-

FIG. 6.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,341,997 WALL CONSTRUCTION Paul Pestel,Anaheim, and James Manderbach, Hacienda Heights, Calif., assignors toThe Flintkote Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of MassachusettsFiled Apr. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 446,147 13 Claims. (Cl. 52-364) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A metal Wall stud with side faces to which wall panelscan be nailed. The stud has a web portion with utility holes in it, eachof the utility holes having a straight edge portion for supporting wallcross-members passing through the stud. A smaller hole is located nearthe straight edge portion of the larger utility hole. The crossmemberspass through the utility holes, and a short length of wire is wrappedaround each cross-member, and through the smaller hole, and the wireends are twisted together to securely fasten the cross-member to thestud.

This invention pertains to interior and exterior partition Wallstructures, and more particularly to an improved metal studconfiguration.

In the general type of wall construction to which this inventionpertains, conventional wall panels, such as gypsum board, are nailed orscrewed to studs in the form of metal I or V-shaped sections. Secondarymetal sections generally span these studs horizontally to providebracing within the wall structure. In one widely used type of wallconstruction, the connection between each such transverse bracingsection and a stud involves a central opening in the web of the stud,through which the bracing extends and by means of which it is supported.A loop or core passing through this opening in the web, around thebracing section, and around the outer face of the stud, usually isattached to secure the bracing in place. This technique is used also insecuring electrical conduit, piping and the like that are passed throughutility openings in the stud, the securing of these utilities beingdesirable due to various conditions, such as vibrational effects. It issignificant to note that passing wire around the outside of the metalstud is unsatisfactory, mainly because this wire interferes withfastening of the wall panels flatly against the stud face.

It is the main object of this invention to improve the manner ofsecuring transverse bracing sections, conduit, ipe and the like, toupright metal studs.

In accordance with this invention, this object is attained by a simplebut unobvi'ous modification of the stud configuration. In the specificembodiment disclosed hereafter, in the channel forming and punchingoperations involved in manufacture of the basic stud section, anadditional opening is punched out adjacent each of the openings intendedfor reception of transverse bracing and utilities. This additionalopening preferably is substantially triangular or diamond-shaped (withan apex pointing toward the main opening), for reasons discussedhereafter, and through it the wire is attached instead of passing thewire around the outer stud face.

Further objects, advantages and details of this invention will becomeevident from the following description, when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a metal stud channel section embodyingthe improvement according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross-section through a finished wallincorporating the stud shown in FIGURE 1, and

3,341,997 Patented Sept. 19, I967 ice showing the wire connectionbetween the stud and transverse bracing;

FIGURE 3 is a partial, enlarged cross-section showing the nailingconnection between a wall panel and the stud;

FIGURE 4 is a partial face view of a stud according to a first modifiedembodiment of this invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a partial face view of a stud according to a second modifiedembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of an I type metal stud incorporating theimprovement according to this invention and illustrating the use ofvarious means for securing a wall panel thereto.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the stud, indicated generally at 2, may be formedout of thin gauge rolled sheet steel, aluminum or other suitable metal.This stud is in the form of a channel or box section comprising a web 4,integral sides or nailing faces 6, and short stiffening flanges 8 bentinwardly. In the specifically illustrated case the principal studdimensions are approximately 2.50 inches across the web 4 and 1.25inches across the nailing face 6, although obviously these dimensionsare variable to meet different design requirements.

A utility opening generally indicated at 12 is shown as punched in theweb 4. Although only one such opening is shown, it will be understoodthat plural openings are formed at spaced locations (e.g., one footapart) along the over-all length of the stud. At opposite ends ofopening 12, there are edges 14 which provide ledges adapted principallyto engage and support a transverse structural element such as a brace. Anarrower passage is defined at each end by edges indicated at 16, thispassage being intended to accommodate other building elements such aselectrical conduit or small diameter pipmg.

In the case of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, directly below opening12 there has been punched, in the course of manufacturing, a four-sideddiamond-shaped opening 18. It is noted particularly that convergingupper edges 20 form a corner or apex 22 which points in the direction ofits associated utility opening 12.

Referring next to FIGURE 2, in a finished partition wall, panels 24 ofgypsum board or the like are fastened to each stud 2 by means of screws26, as illustrated, or by adhesive. The function of the indentations 10is illustrated in FIGURE 3. Each of these indentations is adapted tocapture the point of a screw and aid its penetration of the stud.

As previously noted, various conduits, lines and piping, as well astransverse bracing members, may be strung through the utility openings12. Heretofore these elements have been secured by a turn of wirecrossing outside one of the nailing faces 6, which was unsatisfactoryfor reasons previously explained. In FIGURE 2 there is shown (in endview) a transverse brace 28 which has been secured by a loop of wire 30that passes through the utility opening 12 and through thediamond-shaped hole 18 and is joined and tightened by twisting at 32. Byvirtue of the converging edges of hole 18, the wire 30', as it istightened, tends naturally to be self-seating in the apex 22. The brace28 is properly held downwardly against both the ledges 14, therebyproviding more effective strengthening of the structure.

Alternative embodiments of this invention are shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.As evident in FIGURE 4, a triangular (three-sided) hole 12' rather thandiamond-shaped (four-sided) hole 12 can be provided, and such holes canbe provided both above and below the utility hole 12. Thus, one of theseholes can accommodate a wire serving to secure a conduit or the like,while the other accommodates a wire serving to secure a transversebrace.

Also, the stud is reversible in the vertical direction. The two sides 29converge to form an apex 22 which functions as in the case of theconfiguration discussed in connection with FIGURES 1 and 2.

Referring to FIGURE 5, this illustrates that a single intermediate hole18" can be provided to serve a pair of utility openings 12. This openingsimilarly has a corner of apex 22" pointing toward each of the adjacentutility openings. Furthermore, as in the case of FIGURE 4, each utilityopening will then be served by a hole 18" provided both above and belowit.

The channel or box type of stud shown in FIGURES 1 to 5 is generallyintended for the mounting of wall panels by means of screws or adhesive.In FIGURE 6 there is illustrated a difierent type of stud which isspecially adapted to accommodate either nails (including staples) o-rscrews. This stud, generally designated 34, is of the I section typehaving a web 35 in which stiffening ribs 37 preferably are formed. Theutility opening 36 and the diamond-shaped (four-sided) opening 38correspond exactly to the openings 12 and 18, respectively, shown inFIGURE 1. The metal is bent in a Y having legs 40 to define nailingfaces 42. The overlapping sections of this configuration are secured bypunched and clinched tabs as indicated at 48. The faces are cut alonglines 44, separated by sections 46, to provide seats for reception of anail, screw or the like. As examples, there are shown fasteners in theform of a screw 50, staple 52 and a nail 56. Nails commonly are used inthis type of construction to secure special clips (not shown) which holdthe edges of adjacent panels in abutting relation.

This invention is not limited to securing bracing to metal studs, but isbroadly applicable to securing in similar manner any building member orelement such as power cables, wiring for communications and electricalcontrols, and various type of piping. Although wire has been shown asthe means for securing these members, other means such as plastic ropeor tape are applicable. Also, the scope of this invention is not limitedto the exact shapes of utility opening disclosed herein. Furtherdepartures from the specifically disclosed embodiments of this inventioncan be efiected without departing from the scope thereof as defined bythe following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A building wall construction comprising in combination a verticalstud member of the metal section type having a web portion and sidefaces to which wall panels can be secured, said web having a utilityopening therein, a transverse building member passing through saidutility opening, a smaller opening in said web at a location spaced fromsaid utility opening, a wire-like means passing through said smalleropening and securing said member against the stud member, and wallpanels secured flatly against at least one of said side faces of thestud member.

2. A construction according to claim 1, wherein said smaller opening isdirectly beneath said utility opening.

3. A construction according to claim 1, wherein said opening issubstantially triangular in shape.

4. A construction according to claim 1, wherein the shape of saidopening is in the nature of a pointed, four sided diamond.

5. A building wall construction comprising in combination a verticalstud member of the metal section type having a web portion and sidefaces to which wall panels can be secured, said side faces havingdepressed areas for acceptance of pointed fasteners, said web having aplurality of vertically spaced utility openings therein, a transversebracing member extending through at least one of said utility openings,separate smaller openings in said web individually associated with saidutility openings, there being one of said smaller openings directlybelow and adjacent each said utility opening, a loop of wire securedaround said building member and through said one utility opening and itsassociated smaller opening therebeneath, and wall panels secured flatlyagainst said side faces by fasteners.

6. A construction according to claim 5, wherein each of said smalleropenings has a shape including an apex pointing toward its associatedutility opening.

7. An elongated metal wall stud member having a web portion and sidefaces to which wall panels and the like are to be secured, said webportion having a utility opening of a size suitable for receiving ametal crossmember, said utility opening having a substantially straightedge portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said stud member for supporting said cross-member,and a substantially smaller opening in said web adjacent said straightedge portion of said utility opening, said smaller opening having aninnermost edge adjacent to said straight edge of said utility opening,said innermost edge having a portion which extends towards said straightedge of said utility opening to an apex and then away from said straightedge.

8. A member according to claim 7 in which said substantially straightedge of said first opening has a central portion indented towards saidsecond opening.

9. A member according to claim 7 which has a second utility openingspaced longitudinally in said web from the first-named utility opening,said smaller opening being located between said first and second utilityopenings and having a second edge opposite said innermost edge, saidsecond edge having an apex adjacent said second utility opening.

10. A member according to claim 9 in which each of said utility openingshas one of said substantially straight cross-member support edges atboth of its ends.

11. A member according to claim 10 in which both of said straightsupport edges of each of said utility openings has a central indentedportion.

12. A member according to claim 7 in which said smaller opening istriangularly-shaped.

13. A member according to claim 9 in which said smaller opening has theshape of a parallelogram.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,083,794 4/ 1963 Stovall S2--3643,129,792 4/1964 Gwynne 52364 3,243,930 4/ 1965 Slowiuski 52364 DAVID J.WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH DOWNY, Examiner.

1. A BUILDING WALL CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A VERTICALSTUD MEMBER OF THE METAL SECTION TYPE HAVING A WEB PORTION AND SIDEFACES TO WHICH WALL PANELS CAN BE SECURED, SAID WEB HAVING A UTILITYOPENING THEREIN, A TRANSVERSE BUILDING MEMBER PASSING THROUGH SAIDUTILITY OPENING, A SMALLER OPENING IN SAID WEB AT A LOCATION SPACED FROMSAID UTILITY OPENING, A WIRE-LIKE MEANS PASSING